Cooking range



1944- E. A. RUTENBER cooKING RANGE Filed Sept. 28, 1940 me w I. E w km 6 m H M F W W n e 1 a A Z Q e M @W ZZK W 0 .15 52 Z m 62 2 a 9 5 w m H w v Patented Jan. 11, 1944 COOKING BAN GE Edwin A. Ruter iber,

to Gibson Electric Greenville, Mich, a

Claims.

This invention relates to cooking ranges, and more particularly to a novel vent for range ovens.

The invention is particularly adapted to electric ranges, although its use is not limited thereto. A range oven must be provided with a vent to permit the escape of vapors generated during the operation of the oven. Heretofore the oven vent has usually been merely an opening in the rear wall of the oven. Vapors issuing from this opening condense shortly after leaving the oven and are deposited on the adjacent walls and surrounding objects in the room where the range is located. The deposit is very unsightly, and requires frequent cleaning of the walls and oblects in the room.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel means for venting a range oven whichv minimizes, it not eliminates, the release of moisture, grease and the like from the oven into the room in which the range is located.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vent duct which is easily and economically constructed and which is easily installed in a range.

These objects are attained by providing a generally U-shaped vent duct, one end of which is inserted through an opening in the back of the oven and the other end is inserted into the space beneath the surface burners of the range and above the usual drip pan that is installed beneath the surface burners.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specification and drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an elec- Grecnville, Mich, aaeignor Refrigerator Corporation, corporation of Michigan Application September 28, 1940, Serial No. 358,798 (01. 126-39) tric range embodying the invention, from which the oven and storage compartment-doors have been removed to show the interior of the range; Figure 2 is a. top plan view of the range shown in Figure 1, a part of the top being broken away to show the construction of the range; and

Figure 3 is a pictorial view of the vent duct, a portion being broken away to show the construction thereof. g

The invention is shown applied to an electric range. The range comprises a front wall ill, a pair of end walls ii, 'aback wall l2, and a top IS. The front wall ID has two openings therein. The opening at the right end of the range provides access to an oven it which within the range. The other opening gives access to a compartment i 5. Ordinarily these two openings are closed by suitable hinged doors. The latter have been removed from the range illustrated in order that the interior of the range can be disclosed.

The range top is has a large horizontal cookis suitably supported.

from the range.

. welded to the rim of the plate 30.

ing and working surface. At the back of the range top is an upstanding splash panel ii in which a control panel 11 is mounted. The part of the range top above the compartment II has four relatively large circular openings therein which receive a like number of surface heating elements, ordinarily called surface burners l8. These burners iii may be of any conventional type. The burners do not completely fill the openings in which they are placed. Space is provided between the edges of the burners i8 and the adjacent edges of the openings or between theheating coils of the burner, or both. These spaces form the compartment i5, when the compartment door is closed.

A drip pan i9 is mounted within the range on a pair of horizontal guides 20. The drip pan i9 is located directly below the surface burners i8 andiorms the bottom wall of the compartment H5. The drip pan is large enough so that it underlies all four burners E8 to catch any matter dripping through the bumers from above. The drip pan i9 is slidably mounted on the guides 20 so that it may be easily removed from the range for cleaning.

The oven is provided with the usual heating elements 2!. The back wall 22 of the oven has a small circular opening 23 near its upper left hand corner through which vapors generated in the oven-may escape.

The back wall i2 of the range has an opening 24 therein axially aligned with the opening 23 in the oven. The back wall 52 also has an opening 25 which opens into the compartment ill at a level above the drip pan I9.

Mounted on the back wall l2 vent duct 25 which in Figure 3 is of the oven is 9. shown separated- The vent duct comprises a straight mid-portion 21 which is of hollow box section, and a pair of cylindrical tubes 28 and 29 extending at right angles to the mid-portion. The mid-portion 21 is made up of a flat plate 30 and a rectangular dished element 3!. The latter is provided with a peripheral flange 32 that is The plate 36 has a pair of circular openings adjacent its ends, each of which receives an end of the corresponding cylindrical [tube 28 or 29. The latter are preferably secured to the plate 30 by welding.

The vent duct 26 is mounted in the range as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The cylindrical tube 29 is inserted through the opening 24 and 23 in the back wall 12 of the range and the back wall 22 of the av respectively. The inner end of principal outlets from the thev tube as terminates within the oven. The tube 28 is inserted through the opening 28 in the back wall of the range and extends into the compartment it. The inner end of the tube 2| projects over the drip pan I! at a point adjacent the nearest surface burner is. The mid-portion 21 of the vent duct 26 is secured flat against the back wall It of the range in any suitable manner. It will be noted that the duct is inclined downwardly from the oven to the compartment ll.

When the oven is in operation issue therefrom pass outwardly through the tube ll, then transversely through the mid-portion l1 and are then led into the compartment ll of the range through the tube 28. Vapors which condense within the inclined vent run down the latter. and are deposited upon the drip pan It. Vapors condensing within the compartment II ar also deposited on the drip pan. A small portion of the vapor; which issue from the oven may not condense in this manner, but will rise through the spaces in and around the surface burners ll. If one or more of the surface burners I8 is in operation, as they usually are when the oven is being used, the vapors that pass through the burner will be heated to a very high temperature and in the presence of the air around the burners will be completely consumed. If the surface burners are not in operation, the vapors which pass through the burners will do no great harm because their quantity is small. Furthermore, they issue from the range well away the room instead of being projected directly toward that wall. The drip pan I9 can be frequently removed for cleaning, and in that way the condensed vapors are easily eliminated.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this invention provides means for venting an oven which is a distinct improvement over ordinary oven vents. It substantially eliminates the deposit of moisture, grease and the like on the walls, draperies, and furniture in the room in which the range is placed. It does so because it provides for the condensation and collection of a substantial quantity of the vapors on the drip pan. it completely consumes all remaining vapors when one or more of the surface burners is operating, and it carries away from the adjacent wall those vapors which do escape from the range when the surface burners are not being used. Furthermore, the vent duct itself is simple and can be readily installed in nearly any modern range.

The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A cooking range having a substantially completely closed oven therein and a separate compartment adjacent said oven, a range top above said compartment having, openings therein communicating with said compartment and forming the principal outlet therefrom, surface burners in said openings partially filling the latter. and a vent for the oven consisting of a duct having one from th adjacent wall oi any vapors which 'tially filling the latter,

' municating with said end communicating with the oven and its other end communicating with said compartment, whereby substantially all of the vapors emanating from the ovenare discharged into said compartment.

2. A cooking range having a substantially completely closed oven therein and a separate compartment adjacent the oven, a removable drip pan forming the bottom wall of the compartment, a range top at the top of said compartment having openings therein communicating with said compartment and forming the principal outlet therefrom, surface burners in said openings parconsisting of a duct having one end communieating with the oven and the other endcomcompartment, whereby substantially all of the vapors emanating from the oven are discharged into said compartment.

3. A cooking range having a substantially completely closed oven therein and a separate compartment adjacent the oven, a range top above said compartment havin openings therein communicating with said compartment and forming the principal outlet therefrom, surface burners in said openings partially iilling the latter. and a vent for the oven consisting of a duct having one end extending into the oven adjacent the top thereof and its other and extending into said compartment. said duct inclining downwardly from said oven to said compartment, whereby substantially all of the vapors emanating from the oven are discharged into said compartment.

4. A cooking range having a substantially completely closed oven therein and a separate compartment beside said oven. a back wall for said range, a horizontal range top having openings therein communicating with said compartment and forming the principal outlet therefrom, surfaceburners in said openings partially filling the latter, and a vent for the oven consisting of a duct having a straight mid-portion attached to said back wall and end portionsat an angle to said mid-portion, one of said end portions extending into said oven adjacent its upper end and the other end portion extending into said' compartment, whereby substantially all of the vapors emanating from the oven are discharged into said compartment. i

5. A cooking range comprising a range top having an opening therein. a burner in said opening partially filling the latter, a removable drip pan below said opening and positioned in spaced relation to said range top, a substantially completely closed oven, and a vent for the oven consisting of a duct having one end communicating with the oven and the other end disposed below the range top adjacent said burner and above said drip p emanating from the oven are discharged into the space between the range top and the drip pan.

EDWIN A. RUTENBER.

and a vent for the oven 7 whereby substantially all of the vapors 

